Shoe-fastener.



0.668.408. Pajented Feb. l9, lam.

J. KALINA. sun: FASTENER.

{Applioatien filed Oct. 29. 1900.)

\No Model.)

WITNESSES Q By TNE mums PEYERS ca. lmcnxurno WASHINGTON. w. c.

lUNTTisn STaTns PaTnNT rrrcnt JOSEF KALINA, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SHOE-=FASTENER,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,408, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed October 29, 1900. Serial No. 34=,693. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEF KApINA, a resident of Olevelan d, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvemen ts in Lacing Devices for Shoes, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for lacing shoes and other articles of wearing-apparelsuch, for instance, as corsets and the plackets of skirts.

The object of this invention is to provide a device that is especially well adapted for lacing shoes, that is readily applied and removed from the shoe, that is comparatively inexpensive and durable, and that can be readily and easily manipulated.

With this object in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures I and II are perspective views of a shoe provided with my improved lacing or fastening device.

Referring to the drawings, a and b designate the two flaps or wings of the shoe,which are adapted to be laced or fastened together by my improved lacing or fastening device, which comprises any suitable number of pairs of ll-shaped straps 0, made of leather or other adequately-durable material. Each flap of the shoe is provided with a row of buttons 6, that are arranged in line and at equal intervals along and near the edge of the flap, and the buttons of the one flap are directly opposite the buttons of the other flap. Each flap is provided with three buttons for each pair of straps, and the two straps of each pair of straps are fastened to the different flaps, respectively. The shoe illustrated in the accompanying drawings is provided with two pairs of straps, and consequently each flap of the shoe hasarow of sixbuttons. Each strap has the separated ends of its diverging parts or branches provided, respectively, with a buttonhole c. The lower strap of each flap of the shoe has one of its buttonholes engaged by the lowermost button of the said flap and has its other buttonhole engaged by the third lowermost or third button of the said flaps row of buttons. The upper strap of each shoediap has one of its buttonholes engaged by the uppermost button of the said flap and has its other buttonhole engaged by the third uppermost or fourth button of the said fiaps row of buttons. It will be observed, therefore, that each flap is provided witha button centrally between and in line with the said fiaps two buttons that are engaged by a strap of the said flap, and the said intermediate button is adapted to be engaged by the companion strap of the other shoe-flap at the crotch of the last-mentioned strap.

The flaps of the shoe during the lacing of the same are drawn together by pulling upon each strap of a pair of cooperating straps in the direction of the other strap of the said pair of straps until the crotch of each strap is brought into registry with the button intermediate of the buttons engaged by the other strap of the said pair of straps, and each strap is then slipped over the outer side of the respective intermediate button, and the lacing of the shoe is then completed, so far as the said pair of straps are concerned. It will be observed also that, as illustrated, both parts or branches of each strap of the upper pair of straps traverse or extend across the same side of the other strap of the said pair of straps when the said straps are rendered operative, as shown in Fig. I, so that the said straps when rendered inoperative, as shown in Fig. ll, do not limit the extent that the upper portions of the flaps of the shoe can be separated.

The parts or branches of each strap of the lower pair of straps cross opposite sides, respectively, of the other strap of the said pair of straps, and consequently the said straps interlock, whereby the shoe when the straps are rendered inoperative, as shown in Fig. II, is merely loosened at the lower portions of the flaps, and the straps limit the extent that the lower portions of the flaps can be separated.

1 would remark that my invention comprises,broadly,two pairs of \l-shaped strapsthat is, straps comprising, respectively, two diverging parts or branches-with the separated ends of the diverging branches of one of the straps fastened to one of the flaps or parts that are to be laced or fastened together, with the separated ends of the diverging branches of the other strap of the said pair of straps fastened to the other of the said flaps or parts, and with a button or equivalent device attached to each flap centrally between the fastened ends of the strap attached to the said flap and adapted to be embraced at its outer side by the crotch-forming portion of the codperating strap of the other flap.

What I claim isl. The combination, with the two flaps or wings of a shoe or other article of wearingapparel, of a pair of straps for closing or drawing together the said flaps, with each strap of each pair of straps having diverging branches, and with the different straps secured, at the separating ends of the diverging branches, to the different flaps, respectively, and each strap having its diverging branches crossing the different branches, respectively, of the cooperating strap at opposite sides, respectively, of the last-mentioned strap, and means for detachably securing the strap of each flap, at the contiguous or meeting ends of the diverging branches of the said strap, to the other flap, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination,with two flaps or wings of a shoe or other article of wearing-apparel, of a lower pair of straps and an upper pair of straps for closing or drawing together the said flaps, with each strap of each pair of straps having diverging branches arranged to cross the branches of the other strap of the said pair and with the different straps of each pair secured, at the separated ends of their diverging branches, to the diiferent flaps, respectively, and each strap of the lower pair of straps having its divergent branches cross ing the different branches, respectively, of the cooperating strap at opppsite sides, respectively, of the last-mentioned strap, and means for detachably securing each strap of each flap, at the contiguous or meeting ends of the diverging branches of the said strap, to the other flap.

Signed by me at Cleveland, Ohio, this 8th day of October, 1900.

JOSEF KALINA.

Witnesses:

O. H. DORER, A. H. PARRATT. 

